Community service can advance your career
LAST Friday was exceptionally rewarding for me.
I had the privilege of hosting the inaugural Malaysia Not-for-Profit Organisation (NPO) Forum and Fair at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Themed “The Uncommon Good”, it was organised by the National Cancer Council (Makna).
The fair drew more than 75 charities from around the country that showcased their work in the exhibition. Also present were various corporate organisations that collaborate on numerous Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects as part of their business model.
I felt honoured to host a daylong forum that had such esteemed speakers like Tan Sri Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, a prominent educationist who was the former vice-chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM); Raja Datin Riza Shazmin Raja Badrul Shah, vice-president of Mercy Malaysia; the very dynamic Ehon Chan, the executive director of Social Enterprise at Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC), and the brainchild of the Malaysian Social Enterprise Blueprint, and many more experts.
The Makna team, led by general manager Farahida Farid, together with 150 volunteers, did a sterling job in bringing to the fore the work done by these NPOs.
Many NPOs in Malaysia often struggle to make ends meet, and this event was successful as a first step towards building a more cohesive sector in Malaysia.
The forum brought together representatives of NPOs of all sizes, and from as wide a geographical area as possible, for a discussion about the key challenges the sector faces in Malaysia.
The fair served as an urban visual conversation with the younger generation through creative translations of their work.
As I write my column this week, I am still buzzing from the joy of contributing to such a worthwhile community project for my country. I feel buoyed that I was able to leverage my skills for a worthy cause.
What does serving the community do for your career?
You have to start by acknowledging that the world seems to be experiencing a real shortage of leadership.
Many people in leadership roles, both in the public and corporate sectors, are beset with negative narratives. There are numerous instances that will come to your mind about compromised leaders.
I read an insightful analysis of this problem by James S. Rosebush, who spent six years observing, and learning leadership skills in the 1980s, while being an assistant to the US president.
When describing this world leadership crisis in an article in the Harvard Business Review entitled “Why Great Leaders are in Short Supply”; he suggested that “there is an increasing perception of incompetence, greed, and frivolity at the expense of the governed, the taxed, and the managed”.
Therefore, the assertion is that to be a good leader, you must become competent, generous, and thoughtful. I agree with this wholeheartedly.
And in my experience, doing selfless or altruistic activities are the greatest teacher of these human values. Giving back to your community is valuable in itself, but helping others also offers you many benefits.
I learnt more about myself from working on such tasks. My need to be professionally relevant has its genesis from contributing to various community projects from an early age.
For young executives who are reading this, please remember that aside from your work proficiencies, many employers look to hire candidates who are active in their community.
As a recruiter myself, I can emphatically say that companies don’t just want book-smart people. They pay attention to candidates with unique and wellrounded experiences.
This means that when I recruit for my clients, I will examine your activities outside of work, from volunteering roles to internships, travelling, and more.
For example, if you are volunteering with the National Cancer Council — Makna, when you are being interviewed for a promotion or better job, you can highlight how that experience relates to your commitment, focus and readiness to pursue something outside of your comfort zone.
I always ask behaviour-based questions during interviews, and I am looking for real-life examples in the answers. I cannot think of a better way to stand out from other candidates than by showing an interviewer that you are committed to helping others.
As for managers, and leaders of organisations; it is very easy for you to lose sight of your company’s larger purpose with the rigmarole of day-to-day operations, meetings and crises.
Volunteering and community projects will help you give your team real, organic, and practical ways to represent your company positively, in the communities that sustain your businesses.
You will also retain good talent in your companies when you engage in community work.
The world is crying out for thoughtful people, and compassionate leaders.
Therefore, be useful to others, and leverage on your skills to give back to the community. Do this and watch your career grow, exponentially.
For young executives who are reading this, please remember that aside from your work proficiencies, many employers look to hire candidates who are active in their community.